Fretcetera vs Open
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fretcetera
This app helps musicians find chords, scales, and progressions for string instruments in any tuning. It calculates optimal fingerings based on playability and user-defined preferences, and can generate chord transition suggestions.
- Chord and scale finder
- Custom tuning support
- Playability-based results
- Progression builder
- Chord transition suggestions
- Instrument configuration
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Fretcetera is musical calculator that uses algorithms to connect you to chords, scales and progressions on a variety of string instruments in any tuning! This is not just a chord book. Fretcetera computes every way to play chords or scales in any tuning, and returns the top results based on their playability. Fine-tune results by configuring your instrument exactly as you play it. Enter personal preferences and constraints. Select from common tunings or create your own! Build progressions to listen to chord transitions, and even get suggestions based on the chords you are playing!
Open
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OpenShape is a chord and tuning tool for guitarists who go beyond standard tuning. Pick any tuning — DADGAD, Drop D, Open G, or a fully custom one — and OpenShape finds real, playable chord voicings across the whole fretboard, not just generic shapes. Add a capo and it recalculates instantly. Every note you hear is a real recorded acoustic guitar sample, not a synthesized tone. Features: • Exact chord voicings for any tuning, any capo position • Unlimited custom tunings (Pro) • Build and save chord progressions, with playback • Built-in microphone tuner • Real acoustic guitar audio for every chord • Dark mode • No account required, no ads Free includes standard tunings, the tuner, and up to 3 saved progressions. OpenShape Pro ($9.99 one-time) unlocks unlimited custom tunings and unlimited saved progressions — no subscription.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Fretcetera at 12.0 against Open's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Fretcetera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Open sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Fretcetera | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (11 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joel Pipher | michael Hix |
In-app purchases
Fretcetera
- Fretcetera Premium$3.99
Open
- Open—Shape Pro$9.99
